[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARIN COMMUNITY CLINIC

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                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2007

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 35th anniversary 
of the Marin Community Clinic. The Marin Community Clinic has 
consistently provided high quality primary care to the residents of the 
community since 1972. Originally established as a free clinic in a Mill 
Valley Community Church, Marin Community Clinic has grown to become a 
federally qualified health center serving as a critical source of 
health care for all residents across Marin County who cannot afford 
medical insurance.
  Throughout my district and across the Nation, the need for health 
care services among low income and uninsured residents continues to 
grow. Many residents who cannot afford care turn to hospital emergency 
rooms as their only health care option. Not only does this fail to meet 
the needs of patients, it also dramatically increases the costs of 
health care for everyone. Designed to offer a more cost-effective and 
affordable option than emergency rooms for non-emergency care, Marin 
Community Clinic receives at least 5-15 referrals from hospitals every 
day.
  Marin Community Clinic also serves as a medical home to over 13,000 
patients each year, 95 percent of whom live within 200 percent of the 
Federal poverty level. Between 1991 and 2007, patient visits have 
increased from 5,000 to nearly 50,000 annually, representing a 9-fold 
increase. Currently, 75 percent of the Clinic's patients are women and 
children. Today, Marin Community Clinic operates one clinic on the 
grounds of Marin General Hospital in Greenbrae and another clinic in 
Novato for residents of northern Marin. Next year, the organization 
plans to open a third clinic in San Rafael to respond to the growing 
community need for health care and dental services in the community.
  As the clinic has grown, the organization has also developed a unique 
model of care that integrates physicians, nurse practitioners, 
physician assistants, nurses, mental health clinicians, and case 
workers to deliver high quality, compassionate care. In addition, Marin 
Community Clinic also provides preventive health education for early 
breast cancer detection and for patients with chronic conditions like 
asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Marin Community Clinic 
also operates a ``Reach Out and Read'' literacy program for children.
  I commend Marin Community Clinic for their dedication, commitment and 
outstanding service for the citizens of Marin County during the last 35 
years and I look forward to their continued success in meeting the 
health care needs with quality care for many more years to come.




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